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Residents press for parking enforcement, permits in Hammond Square; commission orders police enforcement and DPW signage review
Summary
Residents petitioned for stricter enforcement in Hammond Square. The commission directed police to enforce parking rules, asked DPW and engineering to confirm and install required no-parking signs, and encouraged petitioners to work with ward councilors on potential resident-permit or one-side parking changes.
A large group of Hammond Square residents told the Traffic Commission on July 16 they are facing chronic on-street parking, overcrowding and alleged unregistered and commercial vehicles blocking narrow neighborhood streets.
Petitioner Catherine Shaughnessy described narrow roads where “kids can’t get on the school bus” and where emergency and ladder trucks cannot pass when vehicles park on both sides. She urged enforcement and suggested resident permits or meters to reduce nonresident parking. “Many of these cars are not registered in Woburn, so we're missing out on the excise tax,” she said.
Police and DPW staff responded that enforcement is possible when illegal parking is reported and that some long-standing no-parking restrictions already exist but may not all be signed. The police urged residents to report abandoned or inoperative vehicles and said they would prioritize overnight parking enforcement during the winter ban and inspect unregistered vehicles when flagged. “If you see something you believe is illegally parked, feel free to call us. We'll come down and check it out,” a police officer said.
After discussion the commission moved to have the police department perform parking enforcement in the area, and directed DPW and engineering to review the neighborhood for required signage and ensure posted no-parking areas are signed. The motion also encouraged the petitioner to meet with ward councilors about possible resident-permit programs or one-side parking changes. The motion passed.
Commissioners noted that changes to parking policy (resident permits, one-side parking) would require formal petitions, study and two readings at the commission and the city council before any ordinance changes take effect.
